A wildlife sanctuary in Dorset has announced it will no longer be able to rescue injured wild birds, citing mounting financial pressures after more than two decades of providing the service.
Sharandys Birds of Prey, based at Vurlands Animal Farm in Swyre, has been rescuing and rehabilitating wild birds for over 20 years. However, the centre has said rising costs mean it can no longer continue taking in injured wildlife.
Centre owner Sharon Cox described the decision as “heartbreaking” and said it was “one of the hardest decisions” she and her family had ever been forced to make.
Ms Cox, who runs Sharandys alongside her son Matt, said rescuing birds had been a lifelong commitment. “I’ve been rescuing birds most of my life, and raptors for over 20 years,” she said. “I don’t think we’ve ever said no before, and that’s why this hurts so much.
“But we cannot allow our own birds to be affected by rescuing. Where do you draw the line?”
She said the emotional toll of the decision weighed heavily. “The thought that there are going to be birds out there now that we can’t rescue, that won’t make it or will suffer — it’s heartbreaking. It really is.”
Ms Cox highlighted the growing costs involved, pointing to the recent rescue of a tawny owl trapped in a chimney that required a 128-mile round trip. “Everything is self-funded,” she said. “By the time you factor in fuel, vet bills and food, it can be hundreds of pounds for a single bird.
“One year it cost us more than £5,000 to rescue around 50 birds. That’s not money you just have lying around.”
She added that rescuers are often faced with difficult choices. “You can get a call that’s two hours away. You look at the fuel in the tank and think, how are we going to do this?”
Sharandys Birds of Prey is home to dozens of birds of prey and also provides hands-on educational experiences for visitors, helping to raise awareness about raptors and conservation.
The centre relocated to Vurlands Animal Farm from its former base in Somerset last year, a move linked to changes in government regulations surrounding animal care.
Despite ending its wild bird rescue work, Ms Cox said the welfare of the birds already in their care would remain the centre’s top priority.